Loading lever arrangement for muzzle loading revolver

ABSTRACT

A loading lever arrangement for muzzle loading revolvers comprises a loading lever having an integrally formed transverse pivot pin located adjacent the rearward end of the lever and an integrally formed rammer engaging lug located below the pivot pin, a cylinder base pin having a transverse pivot pin receiving groove formed in the upper surface thereof and a transverse retaining pin receiving groove formed in the lower surface thereof, a base pin retaining pin releasably engaging the cylinder base pin, and a bullet rammer having a T-shaped vertical slot formed in the forward end portion of the rammer. The transverse pivot pin of the loading lever is received in the pivot pin receiving groove of the cylinder base pin, the bullet rammer engaging lug of the loading lever is received in the Tshaped vertical slot of the bullet rammer, and the base pin retaining pin is received in the retaining pin receiving groove of the cylinder base pin. As a result, the cylinder base pin is retained in the frame by the base pin retaining pin, the loading lever is pivotally secured to the cylinder base pin and the bullet rammer is connected to the loading lever.

llnited States Patent [191 Sefried, H

[ LOADING LEVER ARRANGEMENT FOR MUZZLE LOADING REVOLVER [75] Inventor:Harry H. Sefried, H, New Haven,

Conn.

[73] Assignee: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.,

Southport, Conn.

22 Filed: May 10, 1972 21 Appl.No.:252,046

[52] US. Cl 42/61, 42/59 [51] Int. Cl. F4lc l/00 [58] Field of Search42/61, 59

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7,613 9/1850 Colt 42/6122,905 2/1859 Walch 42/61 30,843 12/1860 Starr OTHER PUBLICATIONSTriggs, James M., Remington New Model Cal. 44 Army Revolver" TheAmerican Rifleman, Apr. 1961, pages 34-35.

Primary Examiner-Samuel Feinberg Assistant Examiner-C. T, Jordan .Ean.8, 1974 57 ABSTRACT A loading lever arrangement for muzzle loadingrevolvers comprises a loading lever having an integrally formedtransverse pivot pin located adjacent the rearward end of the lever andan integrally formed rammer engaging lug located below the pivot pin, acylinder base pin having a transverse pivot pin receiving groove formedin the upper surface thereof and a I transverse retaining pin receivinggroove formed in the lower surface thereof, a base pin retaining pinreleasably engaging the cylinder base pin, and a bullet rammer having aT-shaped vertical slot formed in the forward end portion of the rammer.The transverse pivot pin of the loading lever is received in the pivotpin receiving groove of the cylinder base pin, the bullet rammerengaging lug of the loading lever is received in the T-shaped verticalslot of the bullet rammer, and the base pin retaining pin is received inthe retaining pin receiving groove of the cylinder base pin. As aresult, the cylinder base pin is retained in the frame by the base pinretaining pin, the loading lever is pivotally secured to the cylinderbase pin and the 1 bullet rammer is connected to the loading lever.

Attorney- Pennie & Edmonds 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures LOADING LEVERARRANGEMENT FOR MUZZLE LOADING REVOLVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to muzzle loadingpercussion cap revolvers, and in particular to an improved loading leverarrangement for such revolvers.

2. Prior Art Muzzle loading percussion cap revolvers, as exemplified bythe classic Army Model revolver of the Civil War era, comprise a frame,a barrel mounted on the frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frameby means of a removable cylinder base pin, the cylinder being formedwith five or six muzzle loading chambers and having percussion capnipples mounted at the rearward end of each chamber, and a removablebase pin retaining pin that releasably engages the cylinder base pin andretains the base pin and cylinder on the frame. A hammer is pivotallymounted on the frame, and a trigger releasably engages the hammer whenthe hammer is cocked. A pawl rotates the cylinder when the hammer isbeing cooked, and a cylinder latch holds the uppermost chamber of thecylinder in alignment with the bore of the barrel when the revolver iscocked. A bullet rammer is slidably mounted in a longitudinal boreformed in the frame in front of the cylinder, and a loading lever ispivotally secured to the frame beneath the barrel by means of aremovable pivot pin or screw and is also secured to the forward end ofbullet rammer by means of another removable pivot pin or screw. Arcuatemovement of the loading lever causes the bullet rammer to travelrearwardly in the bore and then to enter and travel part way into thelowermost chamber of the cylinder. To prepare the revolver for firingeach chamber of the cylinder is individually loaded with a measuredquantity of loose black powder, and a lead bullet is then rammed orcompressed against the charge of powder in the chamber by means of theloading lever and bullet rammer combination. A percussion cap is placedon each percussion cap nipple to complete the loading operation. Thehammer is then manually cocked, and the revolver is ready to be tired bypulling the trigger.

As noted, in a conventional muzzle loading revolver the cylinder basepin is releasably retained in the frame by means of a removable base pinretaining pin, the loading lever is pivotally secured to the frame bymeans of a removable loading lever pivot pin or screw and thelongitudinally movable bullet rammer is secured to the loading lever bymeans of a removable bullet rammer pin or screw. When the revolver isfired the recoil of the revolver frame subjects the base pin retainingpin, the loading lever pivot pin and the bullet rammer pin to enormousstresses that cause excessive wear and eventually require replacement ofthese key parts. Moreover, the fact that the loading lever is secured tothe frame and the bullet rammer is secured to the loading lever byremovable pins or screws adds significantly to the cost of manufactureof the revolver and to the complexity of assembling and disassemblingthe revolver.

After intensive investigation of the aforementioned problems ofconventional muzzle loading revolver construction, I have now devised animproved loading lever arrangement which eliminates the troublesomeloading lever pins and which greatly improves the revolvers resistanceto destructive stresses due to the recoil of the frame when the revolveris fired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved loading lever arrangement of theinvention is applicable to a muzzle loading revolver having a frame, acylinder rotatably mounted on the frame by means of a longitudinallyextending cylinder base pin that is removably received in a longitudinalbore formed in the frame, and a cylinder base pin retaining pin mountedon the frame and releasably engaging the cylinder base pin to retainsaid base pin on the frame. A bullet rammer is slidably mounted in alongitudinal hole formed in the frame in front of the cylinder, and aloading lever is pivotally mounted on the revolver in front of thecylinder and is connected to the bullet rammer for moving the rammerlongitudinally in said longitudinal hole. The improved loading lever hasan integrally formed transverse pivot pin disposed adjacent the rearwardend thereof and an integrally formed rammer engaging lug disposed belowsaid pivot pin, the cylinder base pin has a transverse pivot pinreceiving groove formed in the upper surface thereof and a transverseretaining pin receiving groove formed in the lower surface thereof, andthe bullet rammer has a T- shaped vertical slot formed in the forwardend portion of the rammer. The transverse pivot pin of the loading leveris received in the pivot pin receiving groove of the cylinder base pin,the bullet rammer engaging lug of the loading lever is received in theT-shaped vertical slot of the bullet rammer, and the base pin retainingpin is received in the retaining pin receiving groove of the cylinderbase pin, whereby the cylinder base pin is retained in the frame, theloading lever is pivotally secured to the cylinder base pin and thelongitudinally movable bullet rammer is connected to the loading lever.

The base pin retaining pin is advantageously rotatably mounted in theframe with the long axis thereof perpendicular to the long axis of thecylinder base pin, the retaining pin being rotatable from its base pinretaining position to its base pin release position. The retaining pinis formed with a base pin receiving groove that is disposed transverseto the long axis of the retaining pin and that coincides with theretaining pin receiving groove of the cylinder base pin perpendicularthereto, the base pin receiving groove being turned away from the basepin so that the body of the retaining pin is received in the retainingpin receiving groove of the base pin when the retaining pin is in itsbase pin retaining position, and the base pin receiving groove beingturned toward the base pin to permit the base pin to be removed from theframe when the retaining pin is in its base pin release position. Otheradvantageous features of the loading lever arrangement of the inventionwill be apparent from the following discussion thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The loading lever arrangement of theinvention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a muzzle loadingrevolver embodying the improved loading lever arrangement of theinvention,

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the loading lever, cylinderbase pin and bullet rammer which together comprise the major componentsof the improved loading lever arrangement,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view along line 33 of FIG. 1 showing thebase pin retaining pin in its base pin release position,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 44 of FIG. 3 showing the retainingpin in its base pin release position,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the retaining pinin its base pin retaining position, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 3 showing the detentmeans associated with the base pin retaining pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As best shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawing, the muzzle loading revolver to which the present inventionrelates comprises, in its major components, a frame 10, a barrel 11secured to the frame 10, a cylinder 12 rotatably mounted on the frame bymeans of the cylinder base pin 13, a base pin retaining pin 14, aloading lever 15, a bullet rammer 16, a spring loaded hammer 17pivotally mounted on the frame 10, a trigger l8 releasably engaging thehammer 17, and hand grips 19. Also provided, but not shown in thedrawing because they comprise no part of the present invention, are acylinder pawl for rotating the cylinder when the hammer 17 is beingcocked and a cylinder latch for holding the uppermost chamber of thecylinder 12 in alignment with the bore of the barrel 11 when the hammer17 is fully cocked.

The cylinder 12 is formed with a plurality (usually six) of muzzleloading chambers 21 and percussion cap nipples 22 are mounted on thecylinder 12 at the rearward end of each chamber 21, the nipples 22 beingformed with a small diameter hole that communicates with the otherclosed rearward ends of the chambers 21. The cylinder 12 has a centerbore 23 by means of which it is rotatably mounted on the cylinder basepin 13. The frame It) is formed with a longitudinal bore 24 in which thecylinder base pin 13 is removably received, the base pin 13 beingretained in the bore 24 by means of the base pin retaining pin 14 in themanner hereinafter described. The rearward end of the cylinder 12 isformed with a plurality of safety notches 25 which are adapted toreceive the nose of the hammer 17 when the loaded revolver is beinghandled or carried about. A cylinder ratchet (not shown) is engaged bythe cylinder pawl to rotate the cylinder 12 when the hammer 17 is beingcocked, and cylinder notches 27 are engaged by the cylinder latch tohold the uppermost chamber 21 in alignment with the bore of the barrel11 when the hammer 17 is cocked.

The cylinder base pin 13 has a rearward shaft portion 13a that isadapted to be received in the longitudinal bore 24 of the frame and thecenter bore 23 of the cylinder, and it has a forward end portion 13b ofsomewhat greater diameter that is adapted to receive the rearward end ofthe loading lever as hereinafier described. The upper surface 31 of theforward end portion of the base pin 13 has a slightly concaveconfiguration which conforms to the cylindrical surface of the barrel 11adjacent the frame 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The

upper surface 31 is formed with a transverse pivot pin receiving groove32 that is perpendicular to the long axis of the base pin 13, and avertical loading lever receiving slot 33 extends longitudinally from theforward end of the base pin 13 to the pivot pin receiving groove 32. Aretaining pin receiving groove 34 is formed in the lower surface of thecylinder base pin 13 (that is, the surface of the base pin 13 oppositethe upper surface 31 thereof). The retaining pin receiving groove 34 hasa generally semi-cylindrical configuration, the forward segment of thegroove 34 being occupied or blocked off by a retaining pin stop element35 that is integrally formed with the base pin 13.

The cylinder base pin retaining pin 14 is rotatably mounted in a bore 37which extends transversely through the frame 10 perpendicular to thelongitudinal bore 24, the upper portion of the bore 37 intersecting thelower portion of the bore 24 and also intersecting the retaining pinreceiving groove 34 when the cylinder base pin 13 is inserted in thelongitudinal bore 24. As shown best in FIG. 3 of the drawing, the basepin retaining pin 14 is formed with a base pin receiving groove 38 thatis disposed transverse (i.e. perpendicular) to the long axis of theretaining pin 14 and that coincides with the retaining pin receivinggroove 34 of the cylinder base pin. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, one endof the bore 37 is chamfered to provide an annular chamfer surface 40,and the corresponding end of the base pin retaining pin 14 is providedwith a spring loaded detent plunger 41 that rides on the chamfer surface40 to detain the retaining pin 14 in the bore 37. In addition, a basepin release detent recess 42 and a base pin retaining detent recess 43are formed in the chamfer surface 40 to detain the rotatable retainingpin 14 in the base pin release position or in its base pin retainingposition, respectively, as hereinafter more fully described.

The base pin retaining pin 14 is rotatable in the bore 37 from its basepin release position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to its base pin retainingposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. When the retaining pin 14 is at itsbase pin release position, the base pin receiving groove 38 is turnedtoward the base pin 13 so that the base pin 13 may be withdrawn from thebore 24 as shown best in FIG. 4. When the base pin retaining pin 14 isin its base pin retaining position, the base pin receiving groove 38 isturned away from the base pin 13 so that the main body of the retainingpin 14 is received in the retaining pin receiving groove 34 therebyblocking removal of the base pin 13 from the bore 24 as shown in FIG. 5.

When it is desired to remove the cylinder base pin 13 from the cylinder12 and frame 10, the base pin retaining pin 14 is rotated counterclockwise to its base release position at which point the detent plunger41 is received in the base pin release detent recess 42 as shown in FIG.6. Rotation of the retaining pin 14 in the counter clockwise directionbeyond its base pin release position is prevented by the retaining pinstop element 35 which blocks further rotation of the retaining pin inthis direction as shown in FIG. 4. When it is desired to retain thecylinder base pin 13 in the cylinder and frame, the base pin retainingpin 14 is rotated clockwise to its base pin retaining position at whichposition the detent plunger 41 is received in the base pin retainingdetent recess 43. Rotation of the retaining pin 14 in the clockwisedirection beyond its base pin retaining position is prevented by theretaining pin stop element 35 which blocks further rotation of theretaining pin 14 in this direction as shown in FIG. 5.

As previously mentioned, the loading lever of a conventional muzzlelaoding revolver is pivotally secured to the frame by means of aremovable pivot pin. The loading lever of the present invention ispivotally secured to the cylinder base pin 13 by means of a transversepivot pin 45 that is an integrally formed part located at the rearwardend of the loading lever 15. The integrally formed pivot pin 45 isreceived in the pivot pin receiving groove 32 of the cylinder base pin13 and it is held in the groove 32 by the undersurface of the barrel 11when the base pin 13 is received in the longitudinal bore 23 as shown inFIG. 1. The loading lever 15 is also provided with an integrally formedbullet rammer engaging lug 46 located at the rearward end of the loadinglever 15 below the pivot pin 45, the lug 46 engaging the bullet rammer16 as hereinafter described. A spring loaded latch 47 is mounted on theforward end of the loading lever 15, the latch 47 releasably engagingthe latch catch 48 mounted on the underside of the barrel 11 when theloading lever 15 is in the position shown in FIG. 1.

The bullet rammer 16 is slidably mounted in the longitudinal bore 50formed in the frame 10in front of the cylinder 12 and below the cylinderbase pin 13. The longitudinal bore 50 is in alignment with the lowermostchamber 21 of the cylinder 12 so that when the bullet rammer 16 is movedrearwardly in the bore 50 it will enter the lowermost chamber 21 to ramor compress the bullet 52 against the charge of loose power in the rearof the chamber. The forward end of the bullet rammer 16 is formed with aT-shaped vertical slot 54 that is adapted to receive the bullet rammerengaging lug 46 of the loading lever 15 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, itwill be seen that when the revolver is assembled as shown.

in FIG. 1, the retaining pin 14 retains the cylinder base pin 13 in thebore 24 of the frame 10, the loading lever 15 is pivotally secured tothe cylinder base pin 13 by means of the integral pivot pin 45, and thebullet rammer 16 is movably secured to the loading lever 15 by means ofthe integral rammer engaging lug 46, these parts together comprising theimproved loading lever arrangement of the invention.

To assemble the loading lever arrangement, the base pin retaining pin 14is inserted in the lateral bore 37 and is rotated to its base pinrelease position shown in FIG. 4. The transverse pivot pin 45 of theloading lever 15 is inserted in the pivot pin receiving groove 32 of thecylinder base pin 13 and the bullet rammer engaging lug 46 is insertedin the T-shaped vertical slot of the bullet rammer 16. The rearward endsof the cylinder base pin 13 and the bullet rammer 16 are then insertedin the longitudinal bores 24 arid 50, respectively, and the assembly ismoved rearwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1. The base pin retainingpin 14 is then rotated to its base pin retaining position shown in FIG.5 to retain the loading lever arrangement in position. The loading lever15 and bullet rammer 16 can now be employed to load the lowermostchamber 21 of the cylin-' der 12 in the manner well known in the art.

When the revolver is fired, the revolver recoils quite sharply and thissubjects the retaining pin 14, the pivot pin 45 and the rammer engaginglug 46 to severe stresses. The retaining pin 14 in particular issubjected to great stress because it is required to retain the entireloading lever arrangement in position on the frame.

However, because of the large area of contact between the cylindricalsurface of the retaining pin 14 and the cylindrical surface of theretaining pin receiving groove 34 of the base pin 13, the great stressesto which the retaining pin 14 are subjected during recoil are so welland so widely distributed that no damage to the retaining pin 14 isoccasioned thereby. Moreover, the wear and damage to the removable pinsor screws formerly used to secure the loading lever to the frame and tothe bullet rammer previously experienced as a result of recoil arevirtually eliminated by the provision of the strong, integrally formedpivot pin 45 and rammer engaging lug 46 of the loading lever 15. Inaddition, although the base pin retaining pin 13 has been described inconnection with the base pin and loading lever of a muzzle loadingrevolver, it will be apparent that this feature of my new loading leverarrangement can equally well be used in connection with non-muzzleloading revolvers having a cylinder mounted on a removable base pin ofthe type herein described.

I claim:

1. In a revolver having a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted on theframe by means of a longitudinally extending cylinder base pin that isremovably received in a longitudinal bore formed in the frame, acylinder base pin retaining pin mounted on the frame and releasablyengaging the cylinder base pin to retain said base pin on the frame, abullet rammer slidably mounted in a longitudinal hole formed in theframe in front of the cylinder, and a loading lever pivotally mounted onthe revolver in front of the cylinder and connected to the bullet rammerfor moving the rammer longitudinally in said longitudinal hole, theimprovement in which the loading lever has an integrally formedtransverse pivot pin disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof and anintegrally formed rammer engaging lug disposed below said pivot pin, inwhich the cylinder base pin has a transverse pivot pin receiving grooveformed in the upper surface thereof and a transverse retaining pinreceiving groove formed in the lower surface thereof, and in which thebullet rammer has a T-shaped vertical slot formed in the forward endportion of the rammer; the transverse pivot pin of the loading leverbeing received in the pivot pin receiving groove of the cylinder basepin, the bullet rammer engaging lug of said loading lever being receivedin the T-shaped vertical slot of the bullet rammer, and the base pinretaining pin being received in the retaining pin receiving groove ofthe cylinder base pin, whereby the cylinder base pin is retained in theframe, the loading lever is pivotally secured to the cylinder base pinand the longitudinally movable bullet rammer is connected to the loadinglever.

2. The revolver according to claim 1 in which the base pin retaining pinis rotatably mounted on the frame with the long axis thereofperpendicular to the long axis of the cylinder base pin, said retainingpin being formed with a base pin receiving groove that is disposedtransverse to the long axis thereof and that coincides with theretaining pin receiving groove of the cylinder base pin perpendicularthereto, said retaining pin being rotatable to its base pin retainingposition at which the base pin receiving groove is turned away from thebase pin and the body of the retaining pin is received in theretainingpin receiving groove of the base pin and being rotatable to itsbase pin release position at which the base pin receiving groove isturned toward the base pin to permit the base pin to be removed from theframe.

3. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the retaining pinreceiving groove of the cylinder base pin has an integrally formedretaining pin stop element located in the forward segment of saidgroove, said stop element blocking further rotation of the retaining pinwhen the retaining pin is rotated in one direction to its base pinretaining position and also blocking further rotation of the retainingpin when the retaining pin is rotated in the opposite direction to itsbase pin release position.

4. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the base pin retaining pinis provided with a spring loaded detent plunger and in which the frameis formed with two detent recesses adjacent said retaining pin, onedetent recess being adapted to receive the detent plunger when theretaining pin is rotated to its base pin retaining position and theother detent recess being adapted to receive the detent plunger when theretaining pin is rotated to its base pin release position.

5. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the base pin retaining pinis provided with a spring loaded detent plunger and in which therotatable retaining pin is received in a bore that extends transverselythrough the frame, one end ofsaid bore being chamfered and the detentplunger of the retaining pin engaging said chamfer whereby the retainingpin is detained in said bore.

6. in a revolver having a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted on theframe by means of a longitudinally extending cylinder base pin that isremovably received in a longitudinal bore formed in the frame, acylinder base pin retaining pin mounted on the frame and releasablyengaging the cylinder base pin to retain said base pin on the frame, abullet rammer slidably mounted in a longitudinal hole formed in theframe in front of the cylinder, and a loading lever pivotally mounted onthe revolver in front of the cylinder and connected to the bullet rammerfor moving the rammer longitudinally in said longitudinal hole, theimprovement in which the cylinder base pin has a transverse retainingpin receiving groove formed in the lower surface thereof, and in whichthe base pin retaining pin is rotatably mounted on the frame with thelong axis thereof perpendicular to the long axis of the cylinder basepin, said retaining pin being formed with a base pin receiving groovethat is disposed transverse to the long axis thereof and that coincideswith the retaining pin receiving groove of the cylinder base pinperpendicular thereto, said retaining pin being rotatable to its basepin retaining position at which the base pin receiving groove is turnedaway from the base pin and the body of the retaining pin is received inthe retaining pin receiving groove of the base pin and being rotatableto its base pin release position at which the base pin receiving grooveis turned toward the base pin to permit the base pin to be removed fromthe frame.

7. The revolver according to claim 6 in which the retaining pinreceiving groove of the cylinder base pin has an integrally formedretaining pin stop element located in the forward segment of saidgroove, said stop element blocking further rotation of the retaining pinwhen the retaining pin is rotated in one direction to its base pinretaining position and also blocking further rotation of the retainingpin when the retaining pin is rotated in the opposite direction to itsbase pin release position.

8. The revolver according to claim 6 in which the base pin retaining pinis provided with a spring loaded detent plunger and in which the frameis formed with two detent recesses adjacent said retaining pin, onedetent recess being adapted to receive the detent plunger when theretaining pin is rotated to its base pin retaining position and theother detent recess being adapted to receive the detent plunger when theretaining pin is rotated to its base pin release position.

9. The revolver according to claim 6 in which the base pin retaining pinis provided with a spring loaded detent plunger and in which therotatable retaining pin is received in a bore that extends transverselythrough the frame, one end of said bore being chamfered and the detentplunger of the retaining pin engaging said chamfer whereby the retainingpin is detained in said bore.

1. In a revolver having a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted on theframe by means of a longitudinally extending cylinder base pin that isremovably received in a longitudinal bore formed in the frame, acylinder base pin retaining pin mounted on the frame and releasablyengaging the cylinder base pin to retain said base pin on the frame, abullet rammer slidably mounted in a longitudinal hole formed in theframe in front of the cylinder, and a loading lever pivotally mounted onthe revolver in front of the cylinder and connected to the bullet rammerfor moving the rammer longitudinally in said longitudinal hole, theimprovement in which the loading lever has an integrally formedtransverse pivot pin disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof and anintegrally formed rammer engaging lug disposed below said pivot pin, inwhich the cylinder base pin has a transverse pivot pin receiving grooveformed in the upper surface thereof and a transverse retaining pinreceiving groove formed in the lower surface thereof, and in which thebullet rammer has a T-shaped vertical slot formed in the forward endportion of the rammer; the transverse pivot pin of the loading leverbeing received in the pivot pin receiving groove of the cylinder basepin, the bullet rammer engaging lug of said loading lever being receivedin the T-shaped vertical slot of the bullet rammer, and the base pinretaining pin being received in the retaining pin receiving groove ofthe cylinder base pin, whereby the cylinder base pin is retained in theframe, the loading lever is pivotally secured to the cylinder base pinand the longitudinally movable bullet rammer is connected to the loadinglever.
 2. The revolver according to claim 1 in which the base pinretaining pin is rotatably mounted on the frame with the long axisthereof perpendicular to the long axis of the cylinder base pin, saidretaining pin being formed with a base pin receiving groove that isdisposed transverse to the long axis thereof and that coincides with theretaining pin receiving groove of the cylinder base pin perpendicularthereto, said retaining pin being rotatable to its base pin retainingposition at which the base pin receiving groove is turned away from thebase pin and the body of the retaining pin is received in the retainingpin receiving groove of the base pin and being rotatable to its base pinrelease position at which the base pin receiving groove is turned towardthe base pin to permit the base pin to be removed from the frame.
 3. Therevolver according to claim 2 in which the retaining pin receivinggroove of the cylinder base pin has an integrally formed retaining pinstop element located in the forward segment of said groove, said stopelement blocking further rotation of the retaining pin when theretaining pin is rotated in one direction to its base pin retainingposition and also blocking further rotation of the retaining pin whenthe retaining pin is rotated in the opposite direction to its base pinrelease position.
 4. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the basepin retaining pin is provided with a spring loaded detent plunger and inwhich the frame is formed with two detent recesses adjacent saidretaining pin, one detent recess being adapted to receive the detentplunger when the retaining pin is rotated to its base pin retainingposition and the other detent recess being adapted to receive the detentplunger when the retaining pin is rotated to its base pin releaseposition.
 5. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the base pinretaining pin is provided with a spring loaded detent plunger and inwhich the rotatable retaining pin is received in a bore that extendstransversely through the frame, one end of said bore being chamfered andthe detent plunger of the retaining pin engaging said chamfer wherebythe retaining pin is detained in said bore.
 6. In a revolver having aframe, a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame by means of alongitudinally extending cylinder base pin that is removably received ina longitudinal bore formed in the frame, a cylinder base pin retainingpin mounted on the frame and releasably engaging the cylinder base pinto Retain said base pin on the frame, a bullet rammer slidably mountedin a longitudinal hole formed in the frame in front of the cylinder, anda loading lever pivotally mounted on the revolver in front of thecylinder and connected to the bullet rammer for moving the rammerlongitudinally in said longitudinal hole, the improvement in which thecylinder base pin has a transverse retaining pin receiving groove formedin the lower surface thereof, and in which the base pin retaining pin isrotatably mounted on the frame with the long axis thereof perpendicularto the long axis of the cylinder base pin, said retaining pin beingformed with a base pin receiving groove that is disposed transverse tothe long axis thereof and that coincides with the retaining pinreceiving groove of the cylinder base pin perpendicular thereto, saidretaining pin being rotatable to its base pin retaining position atwhich the base pin receiving groove is turned away from the base pin andthe body of the retaining pin is received in the retaining pin receivinggroove of the base pin and being rotatable to its base pin releaseposition at which the base pin receiving groove is turned toward thebase pin to permit the base pin to be removed from the frame.
 7. Therevolver according to claim 6 in which the retaining pin receivinggroove of the cylinder base pin has an integrally formed retaining pinstop element located in the forward segment of said groove, said stopelement blocking further rotation of the retaining pin when theretaining pin is rotated in one direction to its base pin retainingposition and also blocking further rotation of the retaining pin whenthe retaining pin is rotated in the opposite direction to its base pinrelease position.
 8. The revolver according to claim 6 in which the basepin retaining pin is provided with a spring loaded detent plunger and inwhich the frame is formed with two detent recesses adjacent saidretaining pin, one detent recess being adapted to receive the detentplunger when the retaining pin is rotated to its base pin retainingposition and the other detent recess being adapted to receive the detentplunger when the retaining pin is rotated to its base pin releaseposition.
 9. The revolver according to claim 6 in which the base pinretaining pin is provided with a spring loaded detent plunger and inwhich the rotatable retaining pin is received in a bore that extendstransversely through the frame, one end of said bore being chamfered andthe detent plunger of the retaining pin engaging said chamfer wherebythe retaining pin is detained in said bore.